1. GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is seen as a strategic move to foster extensive trade discussions between the United States and India, potentially enhancing bilateral trade ties.

Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)

• About: It is a preferential trade arrangement that allows developed countries to grant preferential tariffs to imports from developing countries. The largest and oldest U.S. trade preference program.
• Act: Established by the Trade Act of 1974.
• Objective: To promote economic growth in developing nations by providing them with easier access to the markets of wealthier countries.
• Key features of GSP:

o Reduced or zero tariffs: GSP offers reduced or zero tariffs on imports from eligible developing countries.

o Product in GSP: GSP including agricultural and industrial goods. However, the specific products eligible for preferential treatment can vary between countries and are subject to negotiation and agreement.

o Eligibility: Eligibility for GSP benefits is often based on certain criteria, such as the level of economic development, the country's adherence to certain international agreements, and compliance with specific labour and environmental standards.

o Review and Renewal: GSP arrangements are usually subject to periodic reviews and may need to be renewed or revised. This allows participating countries to assess the impact of the program and make adjustments as needed.

• Current India status: India had lost GSP benefits (largest beneficiary till 2017) in 2019 when former US President began introducing radical trade measures citing widening trade gap with India and China.

Significance of GSP Restoration for India:

• Economic loss: Due to loss Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) status. India loss $5.7 billion worth of imports into the US that had duty-free status.
• Crucial for Indian exporters: GSP restoration is crucial for Indian exporters as it provides preferential tariffs, promoting export growth and trade relations between India and the US.
• Restoring economic cooperation: GSP restoration has been a recurring topic in India-US trade policy forum meetings, highlighting its significance in resolving trade issues and fostering economic cooperation.

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2. GREEN CREDIT PROGRAMME (GCP) (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: The Centre has approved 12 greening projects under the Green Credit Program (GCP), which was notified last year as a market-based mechanism designed to incentivize voluntary environmental actions across diverse sectors.

Green Credit: It  represents an individual unit of incentive awarded for a designated environmentally beneficial activity. This form of credit is attainable by various entities, including individuals, farmer-producer organizations (FPOs), industries, as well as rural and urban local bodies, among other stakeholders.

Green Credit Programme (GCP)

• Launched: During the 2023-24 budget as part of Mission LiFE.
• About: An innovative market-based mechanism designed to incentivize voluntary environmental actions across diverse sectors, by various stakeholders like individuals, communities, private sector industries, and companies.
• Aim: To incentivise environmentally conscious practices and promote a sustainable lifestyle through a market-based mechanism. 
• Implementation by: The Ministry of Environment has released the draft 'Green Credit Programme Implementation Rules 2023' under the purview of the Environment Protection Act of 1986.
• Traded on a domestic market platform: Green credits generated through such actions can be traded on a domestic market platform.
• Governance framework: Supported by an inter-ministerial Steering Committee and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) serves as the GCP Administrator, responsible for program implementation, management, monitoring, and operation.
• Earn carbon credits as well: Any activity generating green credits under the government's Green Credit Programme (GCP) will also receive carbon credits under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme if it leads to the reduction or removal of carbon emissions.
• 8 Sectors: Environment-friendly actions include tree plantation, water management, sustainable agriculture, waste management, air pollution reduction, mangrove conservation and restoration, Eco mark label development, and sustainable building and infrastructure.

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3. MANIPURI PONY (Syllabus: GS Paper 1– Art & Culture)

Context: The Government of Manipur has recently joined hands with various organisations and associations to save the Manipuri Pony or Meitei Sagol.

Manipuri Pony

• About: The Manipuri Pony Meitei Sagol, is a traditional Indian breed of small horse or pony from Assam and Manipur in north-eastern India. It appears both in the history and the mythology of Manipur, and was used for warfare and polo. 

o It is one of five recognised equine breeds of India, and has a powerful cultural significance for Manipuri society.

o It is featured in mythological stories, and is celebrated in oral tradition, ballads, and rituals. Historically an important part of Manipuri armies, it is used only for cavalry, rituals, and sport, not for working as a draught animal

• Efforts for its conservation: The Marjing Polo Complex has been developed as a way to conserve the Manipur Pony.

o The state government has released Manipur Pony Conservation and Development Policy 2016.

Manipuri Pony and Modern Polo

• Modern polo is said to have originated from Sagol Kangjei, a sport indigenous to Manipur, in which players ride horses, specifically the Manipur Ponies, which are referenced in records dating back to the 14th century.
• The British learned of polo during the nineteenth century while watching it played on Manipuri ponies in India. 

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4. WPA 1972 & EPA 1986 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Environment)

Context: The Supreme Court recently ordered the Rajasthan government to close 68 mines operating within a 1-kilometer radius of the Sariska reserve's critical tiger habitat, as both the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Environment Protection Act, 1986, prohibit such quarrying.

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

• About: It establishes a legislative framework for the preservation of various wild animal and plant species. It also encompasses the management of habitats, regulation of trade in species' parts, and control of products manufactured from them.
• Classification under the Act: The act includes schedules categorizing plants and animals, subjecting them to different levels of government protection and oversight.
• India's Inclusion in CITES: The Wildlife Act played a crucial role in India's admission to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
• Constitutional Provisions: Article 48A of the Indian Constitution mandates the State to safeguard and improve the environment, including the protection of wildlife and forests. 
• This provision was added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976.
• Section 29: Only such activities can be carried out in national parks and sanctuaries which are for the betterment of wildlife. Mining is not one of such activities

Environment Protection Act, 1986

• About: The EPA, 1986 establishes a framework for studying, planning, and implementing long-term environmental safety measures.
• Origin: The EPA was influenced by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in June 1972, where India committed to improving the human environment.
• Constitutional Provisions

o Article 253: The EPA was enacted under Article 253 of the Indian Constitution, which allows for legislation to give effect to international agreements.

o Article 48A: This article mandates that the State shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife.

o Article 51A: This article provides that every citizen has a duty to protect the environment.

Sariska Tiger Reserve 

• About: A prominent wildlife sanctuary and national park located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, India. The park is a part of the Aravalli Range.
• Establishment: It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955.
• Later, it was designated as a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in 1978.
• The wildlife sanctuary was declared a national park in 1982.
• Vegetation: Dry deciduous forests, thorn scrubs, and grasslands.

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5. SYNUCLEIN ALPHA (SNCA) (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, many Parkinson’s disease researchers have focused on reducing SNCA protein levels in neurons as a therapeutic strategy.

Synuclein Alpha (SNCA) Protein

• About: It is a mysterious protein, notorious for its involvement in age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
• Localization in Neurons: It is abundant in neurons, especially in dopaminergic neurons found near the nuclei of these cells and at the junctions between two neurons.

o It’s capable of misfolding as well as forming filamentous structures.

• Structural Variability: Unlike most other proteins, which take up predictable three-dimensional structures, SNCA can fold in multiple ways.
• Functional Impairment: Misfolded proteins don’t function correctly.
• Tissue Distribution: It is abundant in the brain, while smaller amounts are found in the heart, muscle, and other tissues.

Parkinson’s Disease

• About: Simply Parkinson's, is a long-term neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that affects both the motor system and non-motor systems.
• Symptoms: Slowed movements (bradykinesia), Tremor while muscles are at rest, Rigidity or stiffness, and Unstable posture or walking gait.
• Treatment: There is no cure for Parkinson disease.
• World Parkinson’s Day: Every year, 11th April is observed as World Parkinson's Day.

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6. NEW SHEPARD-25 MISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, Andhra-born Gopi Thota-Akura made history as the first Indian citizen to enter space as a tourist, participating in Blue Origin's NS-25 mission.

New Shepard-25 (NS-25) Mission

• About: It is a sub-orbital spaceflight mission, operated by Blue Origin, which was launched on 19 May 2024 using the New Shepard rocket.

o The 25th mission in the New Shepard program will carry six astronauts beyond the edge of space before bringing them back to Earth.

• Launches from: Launch Site One, located in the high desert of West Texas near Van Horn.

New Shepard

• About: Reusable rocket system crafted to transport astronauts and research payloads beyond the Karman line.

o Karman line: It is a boundary 62 miles (100 kilometers) above mean sea level that borders end of  Earth's atmosphere and the beginning of space.

o It is a conventional definition of the edge of space. It is not universally accepted.

• Development: Developed by Blue Origin as a fully reusable sub-orbital launch system specifically for space tourism.
• The name "New Shepard" is inspired by Alan Shepard, the first American astronaut to travel into space.
• Reusability: New Shepard is a fully reusable rocket system, designed to be launched multiple times without significant refurbishment.
• Environmental Impact: Nearly 99% of New Shepard’s dry mass is reused, including the booster, capsule, engine, landing gear and parachutes. 

o New Shepard’s engine is fuelled by highly-efficient liquid oxygen and hydrogen.

o During flight, the only byproduct is water vapour with no carbon emissions.

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7. SPECULOOS-3B (Syllabus: GS Paper 3– Sci and Tech)

Context: An international team of astronomers recently detected a new, Earth-sized planet named SPECULOOS-3b, just 55 light years away, orbiting an ultra-cool red dwarf star.

SPECULOOS-3b

• About: It is an Earth-size planet orbiting an ultracool red dwarf star located 55 light-years away from Earth.
• Unique Characteristics: Despite being similar in size to Jupiter, the red dwarf emits light 100 times dimmer than the sun and has half the temperature.
• Rare Discovery: It is only the second planet of its kind discovered around this type of star.

o The discovery was made by the SPECULOOS project, led by the University of Liège, Belgium, in collaboration with several other institutions, using an observatory in the Atacama Desert of Chile.

o The SPECULOOS project aims to identify exoplanets orbiting ultra-cool dwarf stars through a network of robotic telescopes worldwide.

• SPECULOOS-3b receives high levels of radiation from its sun, potentially leaving the planet without an atmosphere, receiving nearly 16 times more energy per second than Earth.
• Orbital Characteristics: It takes approximately 17 hours for SPECULOOS-3b to complete an orbit around its star.

Red Dwarf Stars

• About: These are the most common type of star in the Milky Way galaxy.
• Characteristics: Smaller and cooler than the Sun, with surface temperatures ranging from about 2,200 to 3,500 Kelvin.
• Long Lifespans: Red dwarfs have exceptionally long lifespans due to their slow consumption of nuclear fuel, making them valuable for studying planetary evolution and habitability over extended periods.

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8. VISHING (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Cyber Security)

Context: Recently, the government issued a circular cautioning its employees about the emergence of sophisticated cybercrime tactics like vishing.

Vishing

• About: It is the short form of "voice" and "phishing," executed through phone calls on mobile or landline devices.
• Methodology: Threat actors initiate vishing by calling victims and coaxing them into interacting with malicious files or emails, often leading to seemingly legitimate websites requesting personal information.
• Information: Attackers may directly request sensitive information from victims during the call.
• Targeted Data: Typically, vishing attacks aim to obtain financial details, passwords, or other private information.

o Vishing attackers may impersonate authority figures or acquaintances, leveraging urgency to persuade victims to disclose sensitive information.

• Telltale signs: A pre-recorded message, Asking for sensitive information, Pretending to be a government official, Using fear and urgency tactics and Poor audio quality.

Other Types of Phishing Attacks

• Spear Phishing: This type of phishing is directed at specific individuals or companies, hence the term spear phishing.
• Clone Phishing: It involves mimicking a previously delivered legitimite email and modifying its links or attached files to trick the victim into opening a malicious website or file.
• HTTPS phishing: An HTTPS phishing attack is carried out by sending the victim an email with a link to a fake website. The site may then be used to fool the victim into entering their private information.
• Evil twin phishing: In an evil twin attack, the hacker sets up a false Wi-Fi network that looks real. If someone logs in to it and enters sensitive details, the hacker captures their info.

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9. STUDY ON NEONATAL PERIOD (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues)

Context: The majority of deaths among children under the age of five in India are now occurring during the early neonatal period (first 7 days) and post-neonatal period (29 days to 11 months), a new study published in JAMA Network Open claimed.

Key Points of Study

• Significant Reduction: Deaths among children decreased substantially from 33.5 to 6.9 deaths per 1,000 between 1993 and 2021, marking a significant improvement.
• Division of Child Mortality Rates: Researchers categorized child mortality rates into four distinct early-life periods: early-neonatal, late-neonatal, post neonatal, and child.
• Decline in Specific Period Mortality: Mortality rates decreased in early neonatal (from 33.5 to 20.3), late neonatal (from 14.1 to 4.1), and post neonatal (from 31.0 to 10.8) periods.
• Shifting Mortality Burden: Majority of child deaths (48.3%) now occur during the early-neonatal period, followed by post-neonatal period (25.6%), highlighting a shift in mortality burden over time.
• Concerns: Certain states and Union Territories (UTs) exhibited stagnation or worsening trends in early-neonatal, late-neonatal, and post neonatal mortality from 2016 to 2021, risking non-fulfillment of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets.
• UN SDG Targets: UN SDGs aim to reduce child mortality to 25 deaths per 1,000 live births within the first 5 years and 12 deaths per 1,000 live births within the first 28 days by 2030.

Neonatal Period

• About: It is the first 4 weeks of a child's life. It is a time when changes are very rapid.
• Neonatal refers to the period of a new-born's life, which typically lasts from birth until 28 days of age.

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10. ELEPHANT CENSUS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: An elephant census in the border areas of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh will be held from May 23 to 25.

Elephant Census

• About: This census exercise will be limited to only the bordering areas to identify conflict areas and chalk out better solutions.
• Objective: to understand the area, and the conflict and chalk out better policies for better coordination and future planning. 

o This is the first time such an exercise is being carried out.

• Outcome: It is the outcome of the inter-state coordination committee meeting in Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

o The inter-state meeting was held after a radio-collared tuskless male (makhana) killed a man in Wayanad, Kerala.

• Geographical Focus in Karnataka: Kolar, Bannerghatta National Park, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, MM Hills (all bordering Tamil Nadu), Bandipur Tiger Reserve (bordering Tamil Nadu and Kerala), Nagarahole Tiger Reserve (bordering Kerala), and all three divisions of Kodagu. 

o The other forest divisions of the state are not included in this exercise.

Methods

• Block Count Sampling Method:

o On the first day, the enumeration will begin with the block count sampling method.

o Forest divisions will be divided into sample blocks ranging from 4 to 6 sq km.

• Dung Count Method:

o The second day will utilize the indirect 'dung count' method.

o Elephant numbers will be estimated based on dung density and its distance from transects.

o Data collection will involve covering straight lines up to 2 km on foot.

• Waterhole Count Method:

o The third day will focus on the waterhole count method.

o Identification of waterbodies frequented by elephants will be the primary objective.

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